Page 18 - Player's Handbook

CHAPTER 2: RACES

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VISITTOONEOfTHEGREATCITIESINTHE RACIAL TRAITS
worlds of OUNGEONS& ORAGONS-
Walerdeep, the Free Cily of Greyhawk, or The descriplion of each race includes racial traits lhal
even uncanny Sigil, the City of Ooors- are common to members of lhal race. The following
overwhelms lhe senses. Voices chatter in entries appear among lhe lrails of most races.
counlless differenl languages. The smells ABILITY SCORE INCREASE
of cooking in dozens of differenl cuisines
I mingle with lhe odors of crowded slreels and poor Every race increases one or more of a characler's
sanitalion. Buildings in myriad architeclural styles abilily scores.
display lhe diverse origins of their inhabilants. AGE
And lhe people lhemselves-people of varying size, The age entry noles the age when a member of lhe race
shape, and colorodressed in a dazzling speclrum is considered an adult, as well as the race's expected
of slyles and hues-represenl many differenl races, lifespan. This informalion can help you decide how
from diminulive halflings and stoul dwarves to old your characler is at lhe start of lhe game. Vou
majeslically beauliful elves, mingling among a variety can choose any age for your characler, which could
of human ethnicities. provide an explanation for some of your ability scores.
Scattered among lhe members of these more common For example, if you play a young or very old character,
races are the lrue exolics: a hulking dragonborn here, your age could explain a particularly low Strength or
pushing his way lhrough lhe crowd, and a sly liefling Conslitulion score, while advanced age could accounl
there, lurking in lhe shadows with mischief in her eyes. for a high Inlelligence or Wisdom.
A group of gnomes laughs as one of lhem activales a
clever wooden loy lhal moves of ils own accord. Half- ALIGNMENT
elves and half-orcs live and work alongside humans, Mosl races have tendencies loward cerlain alignments,
without fully belonging to lhe races of eilher of lheir described in this entry. These are nol binding for player
parenls. And lhere, well oul of lhe sunlighl, is a lone characlers, bul considering why your dwarf is chaolic.
drow-a fugilive from lhe sublerranean expanse of for example, in defiance of lawful dwarf society can help
the Underdark, trying to make his way in a world you better define your characler,
thal fears his kind.
SIZE
CHOOSING A RACE Characlers of mosl races are Medium, a size calegory
including creatures lhal are roughly 4 lo 8 feet la 11.
Humans are lhe most common people in lhe worlds of Members of a few races are Small (belween 2 and 4 feel
0&0, bul they live and work alongside dwarves, elves,
halflings, and counlless olher fanlaslic species. Your la 11),which means lhal cerlain rules of lhe game affecl
character belongs lo one of lhese peoples. lhem differenlly. The mosl importanl of lhese rules
Nol every inlelligent race of lhe mulliverse is is lhal Small characters have lrouble wielding heavy
appropriale for a player-conlrolled advenlurer. Owarves, weapons, as explained in chapler 6.
elves, halflings, and humans are the most common SPEED
races to produce the sorl of advenlurers who make up Your speed delermines how far you can move when
lypical parlies. Oragonborn, gnomes, half-elves, half- lraveling (chapler 8) and fighling (chapler 9).
orcs, and lieflings are less common as adventurers.
Orow, a subrace of elves, are also uncommon. LANGUAGES
Your choice of race affects many differenl aspecls of By virtue of your race, your character can speak, read,
your character. /t establishes fundamenlal qualities thal and wrlte cerlain languages. Chapler 4 lisls the mosl
exisl IhroughoUI your characler's adventuring career. common languages of lhe 0&0 multiverse.
When making lhis decision, keep in mind lhe kind of
character you wanl lOplay. For example, a halfling could SUBRACES
be a good choice for a sneaky rogue, a dwarf makes a Some races have subraces. Members of a subrace
lough warrior, and an elf can be a maSler of arcane magic, have lhe lrails of the parenl race in addition lo lhe
Your characler race nol only affecIs your abilily scores lrails specified for lheir subrace. Relationships among
and lrails bul also provides lhe cues for building your subraces vary significantly from race lo race and
characler's story. Each race's descriplion in lhis chapler world to world. In the Oragonlance campaign setting,
includes information to help you roleplay a characler of for example, mountain dwarves and hill dwarves live
lhal race, including personality, physical appearance, logelher as differenl clans of lhe same people, bul in
features of sociely, and racial alignmenl lendencies. the Forgolten Realms, lhey live far aparl in separale
These delails are suggeslions to help you think aboul kingdoms and call lhemselves shield dwarves and
your characler; adventurers can deviate widely from lhe gold dwarves, respeclively.
norm for lheir race. /t's worthwhile to consider why your
character is differenl, as a helpful way to think aboul
your characler's background and personalily.

PARTI I RACES
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